Living with a Noncommunicable Disease: Self-Care, Treatment and Your Legal Rights

17 September 2026 Clinical Negligence,News

In honour of World Patient Safety Day on 17th September, the World Health Organization is committed to addressing the impact of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) that affect billions of people. NCDs account for 74% of deaths worldwide. More than three- quarters of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Alongside personal self-care, clinical treatment for noncommunicable diseases is pivotal for your wellbeing. In cases of medical negligence, if medical professionals fail to provide adequate care or misdiagnose care for a noncommunicable disease, you may be entitled to compensation for the damage caused as a result. In this article, we’ll tell you more about each of the main noncommunicable diseases.

What is a noncommunicable disease?

Also known as chronic diseases, noncommunicable diseases are not contagious and are predominantly of a long duration. They are primarily caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, physiological and behavioural factors.

Risk Factors

The five major risk factors for noncommunicable diseases are: physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, air pollution and tobacco use.

What are the different types of noncommunicable diseases?

There is no definitive number of recognised noncommunicable diseases; however, the four major noncommunicable diseases recognised by the World Health Organisation are:

Diabetes
Cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Chronic lung disease

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that causes your blood glucose (sugar) level to become too high.

There are more than ten types of diabetes. The three most common are:

Type 1 diabetes is commonly diagnosed in childhood, but it can develop at any age. It is not preventable.
Type 2 diabetes typically presents itself in a combination of people due to ethnicity, being overweight, age or living with obesity.
Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy. The risk of contracting it can be reduced through lifestyle changes. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after you have given birth.

Prevention and awareness

It is crucial to recognise symptoms of diabetes. Know what to look out for!

Are you feeling thirsty all the time?
Are you peeing more than usual?
Do you feel extremely tired?
Have you lost weight without trying to?

What are the risks of not taking care of your condition?

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to life-altering complications, such as:

Retinopathy
Cardiovascular disease
Nerve damage that may result in limb loss

Self-care beyond clinical treatment: what can patients do?

Managing an NCD requires more than attending appointments and taking prescribed treatment. So, what can you do beyond this?

Treatments for the different types of diabetes vary, but you can still make a difference in how you look after yourself.

Maintain a healthy diet – fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods are essential for keeping your body healthy.
Spend at least 2.5 hours a week engaging in a walk or an activity that leaves you out of breath.
Stop smoking!
Regulate your alcohol intake. For Type 1 diabetes, never drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
For Type 1 diabetes, ensure you always carry something to raise your blood glucose quickly! This could be a sugary drink, treat or glucose tablet.
Keeping a record of symptoms, medications and test results.
Therapy
Occupational therapy
Meditation

Case study: Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks revealed his diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in 2013. He expressed suffering from symptoms, such as high blood sugar levels, for over 20 years before he took measures to get a diagnosis. Although it takes more than a few small changes to his lifestyle, Hanks has said that making changes to his diet, being aware of what he eats, and regular walks with his dog have made the condition manageable.

Medical Negligence and diabetes: When things go wrong

Recognising diabetes early can prevent your condition from progressing and having devastating effects. Receiving the correct treatment and monitoring symptoms is crucial to manage your condition. There are therefore sometimes occasions where medical negligence may occur.

Common examples of medical negligence for diabetes include:

Type 1 diabetes:

Failure to monitor HbA1c levels
Failure to provide the correct equipment to monitor your diabetes
Failure to maintain the correct dosage of insulin can result in Diabetic Retinopathy

Type 2 diabetes:

Delay in diagnosis that causes your condition to worsen
Failure to refer to a specialist
Failure to recognise deterioration can result in lower limb amputation.

Gestational diabetes:

Failure to recognise symptoms of gestational diabetes during pregnancy
Failure to monitor your condition during labour
Delayed induction of labour or caesarean section
Delayed diagnosis can cause preeclampsia if not treated
Failure to treat can result in a stillbirth

Here at Prosperity Law, our Medical Negligence team is dedicated to providing support through the claim process, ensuring that you receive the compensation needed to cover medical expenses, rehabilitation, loss of income and other support.

Cancer

Cancer is a condition where cells in the body grow in an uncontrolled manner. Spotting cancer symptoms early is crucial for an early diagnosis and getting the best treatment you need.

Symptoms of cancer

What should you look out for?

A new lump on your body
Feeling extremely lethargic
Losing weight without trying to
Profuse sweating (especially at night) or a high temperature
Unusual pain in your body
Changes in your poo (diarrhoea, constipation, blood)
A new mole
A cough that does not get better
Vaginal discharge
Blood in semen
Coughing up blood

If you have any of these symptoms, book an appointment with your GP.

Treatments available for cancer

Chemotherapy: this uses medicines to kill the cancer cells
Radiotherapy: this uses radiation to kill cancer cells
Immunotherapy: medicines are used to help your immune system kill cancer
Hormone therapy to stop the growth of or slow down cancer

Causes and prevention

1 in 2 people is estimated to get cancer in their lifetime. Although it is not always clear what causes it, there are certain things that can increase your risk of getting cancer.

Old age
Inherited genetically from a family member
Smoking, being overweight, overconsumption of alcohol and too much sun exposure
Exposure to asbestos, which can be found in the structure of some buildings built before 1990

What self-care can you do to help prevent cancer?

Cut down on alcohol. Avoid drinking more than 14 units a week
Stay up to date with vaccines such as the HPV vaccine or hepatitis B vaccine if you can
Try to lose weight if you are overweight
Try to quit smoking
Spend some time in the shade and wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF
Engage in at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week

Case study: Rita Wilson

Singer and actress Rita Wilson was diagnosed with lobular carcinoma, the second most common breast cancer, in 2015. She described being told that no cancer was present despite having two abnormal biopsy results. Trusting her instinct, she sought a second opinion, which led to her diagnosis.

Wilson underwent a double mastectomy and has since been cancer-free for over 10 years. She has credited recognising symptoms early, getting a second opinion and an early diagnosis as the reasons for her full recovery.

Recognising symptoms and getting an early diagnosis were crucial in Rita Wilson’s recovery. Had she not advocated for herself and pushed for a diagnosis, this may have been a different outcome.

Medical Negligence and cancer: When things go wrong

Whilst early treatment and the opportunity to gain opinions from different doctors can improve your overall condition, financial pressures can make this less accessible for some people. There are therefore sometimes occasions where medical negligence may occur.

Common examples of medical negligence for cancer include:

Delay in diagnosis: missing a diagnosis that would have changed your prognosis had it been found earlier
Misdiagnosis
Improper treatment
GPs failing to refer patients to a specialist
Incorrect interpretation of cervical screenings
Failure to recognise abnormal symptoms, such as rectal bleeding or vaginal discharge

At Prosperity Law, we understand the devastating effect cancer can have not just physically, but how much of an emotional and financial impact it can have. Our Medical Negligence team is dedicated to providing support through the claim process, ensuring that you receive the compensation needed to cover medical expenses, rehabilitation, loss of income and other support.

Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a collective term for all conditions that affect your heart and blood vessels. Although treatment is necessary, it is often prevented by a healthy lifestyle. This is why self-care is so important!

The four main types of CVD conditions are:

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is when the arteries become blocked by a build-up of fat. This makes it difficult for blood to flow to and from the heart.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a build-up of fat in the arteries, which limits blood flow to the legs and feet.
Aortic disease is a group of conditions that affect the aorta. It can progress to an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Strokes are when a blockage causes the blood to suddenly stop flowing to the brain. It often affects speech and movement.

What are the risks of not taking care of a CVD?

Cardiovascular disease is one of the largest causes of preventable deaths. Sometimes CVD is unavoidable, but the British Heart Foundation warns that not taking preventative measures to avoid CVD could result in becoming very ill or death.

Prevention and awareness of CVD

Cardiovascular disease is primarily caused by a build-up of fat in the arteries. Blood flow is therefore restricted and can lead to a blood clot.

What would make you more likely to get CVD, and what can you do to prevent it?

CVD predominantly affects people aged over 50
Men are more likely to get CVD than women
You may be more likely to get CVD if you are from a South Asian, Black African or African Caribbean ethnic background
Genetically contracting it from a family member
Having preexisting conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
According to the British Heart Foundation, stress increases the chances of getting CVD

Although some of the risk factors may be out of your control, the NHS warns that leading an unhealthy lifestyle increases your chance of being at risk of CVD.

So, what can you do to prevent cardiovascular disease?

Try not to drink excessively, smoke, or lead an inactive lifestyle.
If you are overweight and inactive, the NHS recommends engaging in exercise weekly.
Small changes are important! Swapping your full-sugar drinks for a sugar-free substitute may help prevent you from developing CVD.

Symptoms of CVD

Symptoms may present themselves differently depending on the type of condition you have. Some conditions are asymptomatic (this means they show no symptoms at all).

What are some signs you can look out for?

Angina:
- Do you feel pain in your chest? This could be a dull ache, a squeezing or a weighing-down sensation.
Heart attack:
- Do you have chest pain that is spreading to your arm, neck and jaw?
- Are you struggling to catch your breath?
- Are you experiencing indigestion?
- Has your skin become discoloured? Such as a pale blue or grey colour? If you have brown or black skin, this may be more prominent on the palms of your hands.
Stroke:
- Has one side of your face dropped?
- Can you lift both arms in the air and maintain that position?
- Are you struggling to speak? Slurring your words may be a sign of a stroke.
- Are you feeling confused?

Case study: Puloma Kundu

Puloma Kundu, 43, found out she had high cholesterol after engaging in the ‘Our Future Health’ programme in November 2023. She was a healthy weight, a non-smoker, didn’t drink and exercised regularly. Despite this, Puloma realised everybody is different and changes needed to be made!

Within 6 months, she increased her weekly exercise to 40 minutes of swimming 3 times a week. Although she wasn’t eating an abnormal amount of sugar, Puloma decreased her intake of cheese, butter and pasta in her homemade Indian dishes. Small changes, like swapping out ghee (clarified butter) for sunflower oil in her meals. No sugary drinks and cooking from scratch made all the difference!

By April 2024, Puloma’s cholesterol levels were back in the healthy range. Just 5 months of changes made Puloma healthy again.

Medical Negligence and cardiovascular disease : When things go wrong

Early diagnosis of CVD is critical. Recognising the signs could save your life! Sometimes, however, early diagnosis is not always possible. Bias and misinterpretation of symptoms can delay early diagnosis. There are therefore sometimes occasions where medical negligence may occur.

Common examples of medical negligence for cardiovascular disease include:

CVD is often misdiagnosed as less serious conditions such as anxiety, stress or acid reflux
Young, healthy people’s symptoms may be dismissed
Women often experience delayed diagnosis and lack of treatment
Incorrect interpretation of ECG
Failure to recognise rarer symptoms

At Prosperity Law, we understand how debilitating cardiovascular disease can be. We understand its impact on your life can be physically and mentally devastating.

Our Medical Negligence team is dedicated to providing support through the claim process, ensuring that you receive the compensation needed to cover medical expenses, rehabilitation, loss of income and other support you may need.

Chronic lung disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the term used for all different types of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

The two main types of COPD are:

Emphysema, which is damage to the air sacs in the lungs
Chronic bronchitis, which is the long-term inflammation of the airways

COPD predominantly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke. The symptoms of COPD are not always obvious, and you may not realise you have it. Here is everything you need to know about COPD.

Symptoms

Shortness of breath
- Are you struggling to catch your breath when active?
Chesty cough
- Have you had a cough with phlegm that will not go away? Don’t dismiss it as a “smoker’s cough”.
- Do you have frequent chest infections?
- Are you wheezing a lot?

Causes and prevention

The most common cause of COPD is smoking or having smoked in the past. However, this is not always the case. Breathing in substances, such as dust or fumes, can be harmful.

Sometimes, a person may have a rare genetic defect that makes their lungs more vulnerable. It is important to contact your GP to ensure it is not another condition, such as asthma.

Self-care for COPD

Treating COPD often includes medicines to make breathing easier. But what can you do to help yourself beyond clinical treatment?

Asthma and Lung UK recommend:

Keeping up to date with your vaccines
Stop smoking
Keeping active to keep your lungs healthy
Maintaining a healthy diet
Avoiding cold weather and mould

Case study: Katy Brown

Katy Brown, 65, was diagnosed with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Her condition became so debilitating that she was forced to quit her job as a nursery assistant. Katy suffered with her symptoms for 3 years and was not offered tests, such as a spirometry test and key breathing assessments, because of COVID restrictions. Although there is no cure for COPD, Katy believes that having that diagnosis would have made her condition easier to manage, as she would have had the resources to manage her condition.

Medical Negligence and COPD: When things go wrong

Whilst there is currently no cure for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, access to the right treatment is essential for the management of your disease. There are sometimes occasions when medical negligence may occur.

Common examples of medical negligence for COPD include:

Delayed treatment
Misdiagnosis
Mismanagement of flare-ups
Failure to monitor condition
Failure to provide access to correct treatment

At Prosperity Law, we understand that living with COPD can be debilitating. During flare-ups of your condition, it isn’t just your breathing that is affected but also your mobility. The inability to do simple tasks, such as walking upstairs, can affect how you live your life.

How Prosperity Law Can Help You

For answers to the most frequently asked questions about medical negligence, read our FAQs article here.

If you think that you or a loved one has been injured as a result of medical negligence associated with a noncommunicable disease, then you may be able to bring a claim.

We hold Medical Negligence Accreditation from the Law Society, ensuring your case is being dealt with by a specialist team.

If you would like to know more about how Prosperity Law can help you with your medical negligence claim or our many other services, then please contact us today for a confidential consultation and legal advice from a qualified solicitor, including our Head of Clinical Negligence Jane Lynch and clinical negligence Partner Rebecca Massey.